Barred Buttonquail — the moment the bell rang, both birds rose to face each other.

The grappling started immediately.

Barred Buttonquail, neither giving an inch, biting at each other's faces.

A third Barred Buttonquail runs past behind the two fighting birds. That's how densely packed with Barred Buttonquail the field was.

Both birds with desperate expressions, each trying to pin the other down.

The individual on the right is larger and has the upper hand.

Moments later it was over, and the bird on the left fled.

Four Barred Buttonquail in a single frame — three in the foreground and one more to the right in the vegetation behind.

Four Barred Buttonquail here as well. Hard to make out, but the fourth bird is visible in the sugarcane field behind, showing only its back.

Barred Buttonquail are about the same size as Eurasian Tree Sparrows. The two species are often found at the same feeding spot. If you see sparrows, watch for a while and a Barred Buttonquail that has lowered its guard will often appear.

One less wary individual kept coming closer and closer.

A Zitting Cisticola probing between sugarcane stalks with its bill, searching for food.

A White Wagtail with a large beetle larva that looks like a substantial meal.